Within the education sector, Alev empowers students to play a leadership role and take action on social issues. Drawing on her background in education, consultancy, and project management, Alev leads programmes and partnerships, as well as being a vital member of our Executive Team.

An experienced educator with 20+ years working in challenging environments, Kaytea leads on the Youth Commission for Leaders Unlocked, working with PCCs and police forces around the country. Kaytea manages our team of regional coordinators, and is a key member of our Executive Team.

Gabrielle manages two important projects for us in the Nottinghamshire region – the Youth Commission and MH:2K. Gabby started as a volunteer on the Youth Commission in 2015 and since then she has progressed to become a well-respected leader in her region.

Kelese supports two important projects in Nottinghamshire – the Youth Commission and MH:2K. She is passionate about supporting young people to have a voice. Kelese started as a volunteer with us, while studying Youth Studies at university, and since then she has progressed to become a member of the staff team in the region.

Jesse is a Project Manager who began his journey with Leaders Unlocked in 2020 as a Young Leader on the Mental Health Foundation’s Young Leaders project. He has a background in sociology and urban regeneration, having graduated from both the University of Sheffield and University College London. Jesse’s experiences and academic grounding shape his approach, enabling him to connect with young people and clients to design and deliver projects that address the intersection of socio cultural factors and create meaningful, measurable impact.

Folade is the project manager for the Mental Health Foundation Young Leaders project. She is passionate about facilitating safe, non-judgemental spaces for young people to share their ideas and experiences. Folade did an internship with us during her undergraduate studies, and then joined the staff team in 2020.

Amber has been with Leaders Unlocked for over three and a half years, progressing from a volunteer and Youth Commission participant to Project Coordinator and now Projects Manager. She holds a degree in Criminology from the University of York and is passionate about empowering young people, building strong partnerships, and delivering impactful youth-led projects.

Scarlett is a Project Coordinator within our policing team, coordinating the IOPC Youth Panel across England and Wales and projects which support young people with lived experience of the justice system. Scarlett has a background in Criminology and Criminal Justice, having recently graduated from the University of Oxford. She has previously worked with vulnerable people in police custody and lead research projects to improve independent scrutiny of the police. Scarlett is passionate about amplifying lesser heard voices and driving meaningful system change.

Bhavan was a citizen researcher for the MH:2K Derbyshire project and progressed onto the role of project assistant after finishing her A - levels. Now as a Project Coordinator, Bhavan is able to fulfil her passion for advocating for youth welfare and inclusion, helping to crack down on all areas of mental health stigma and tackle the ongoing mental health crisis.

With over a decade of experience in community engagement, Nairn has a proven record of empowering youth and championing mental health initiatives. Previously, he led the North Ayrshire Mental Health Commission, empowering young people to drive mental health change. Now, as the lead for the anti-bigotry initiative *Project Progress*, Nairn channels his passion for social impact into creating inclusive, impactful solutions.